There’s a good chance that your asphalt or blacktop driveway will develop cracks and the finish will dull over time. Sun, rain, snow, extreme temperatures and general use will take their toll. What’s the harm? The driveway is among the first things that a buyer sees when assessing your home and its value. Is your driveway delivering on a great first impression or setting a buyer up to look for other perceived flaws?

Not selling? Cracked areas are more susceptible to continued deterioration. Repairing cracks and sealing your driveway prevents further damage while improving curb appeal. The good news is that repairing and sealing your driveway aren’t overly complicated and now’s the time to do it. Here’s a question and answer session and some quick tips to consider when starting a driveway sealing project.

How new is your surface? An asphalt surface must cure for at least 6 months including one full summer before resealing. What is Mother Nature up to? Outdoor temperatures should be at least 65° F and rising (but below 90° F) with no rain or cold temperatures expected within 36 hours of completion.What is the state of your driveway?Make sure the driveway has cleaned well, pressure washing and removing any greasy stains using a degreaser.What is the state of your driveway part two? Repair cracks and potholes with a Black Jack or Gardner crack filler or patching product. Repaired potholes should be compacted and repairs should be allowed to cure prior to coating.What other helpful tips can assist in achieving perfect results? Turn sealed buckets upside down a day before application to make mixing easier. How many coats should I apply? Two thinner coats deliver a more consistent cure, better finished appearance and reduced tracking.What now?After the driveway is clean and repairs have cured, we start with a damp surface. Use sealer to cover the driveway in one direction. Once the first coat is dry, typically 4 – 12 hours depending on sun exposure and such, apply the second coat in the opposite direction.Anything else?When using multiple buckets, remember to look for the same batch code and then blend buckets for finish consistency..

The RESOURCES page on gardner-gibson.com leads to more great tools, like the Technical Data Sheet (TDS) which provides product specific preparation, application and storage information. And you’ll find tips and videos too. The best advice? Always review product instructions and wear proper safety gear for a safe and successful project. All the best with your coating application! CONTACT US with questions. We’re here to help.

Roofs can see a surprising number of visitors throughout the year including heating and cooling contractors, solar contractors, stucco/masonry/brick contractors, window washers, IT, cable and satellite installers, seasonal decorators sign installers and snow removers. Any of these and more can cause damage. Before anyone heads up to the roof, make sure you know how to protect it.

Know your warranty and what type of activity on the roof should be monitored by the roofing contractor and/or roof membrane manufacturer.

If you’re like us, when you see the word “postseason”, you think about football free agency, players retiring and rookies getting ready for the draft. However, roof maintenance, like football, also follows a seasonal calendar. Let’s talk post-winter season roof repair. Every season delivers its own version of stress for your roof, and winter is no exception. The continual freeze-thaw cycle in northern climates subject roofs to phases of expansion and contraction that can result in splits or cracks around roof joints, chimneys, skylights and other projections. Strong winter winds can loosen flashings and shingles. And ice dams can trap water long into pools that eventually seep into damaged areas, ultimately resulting in leaks.

Simply put, winter weather exposes roofs to environmental extremes that can in turn lead to significant damage. However, extreme winter weather also creates seasonal challenges for roof maintenance. Imagine climbing up on the roof to assess maintenance needs and conditions during the winter: Mid-winter roof maintenance can be hazardous to both the climber and the roof. Extreme cold renders rooftops more susceptible to damage; and simply walking on a roof in winter becomes extremely dangerous work. Surfaces brittle and break under foot, and ice greatly increases the risk of slippage.

As winter comes to a close, the spring thaw reduces the icy hazards of roof-work in cold weather. In comes the post-winter season—time to assess the health of your roof.

Whether you hire a pro for a seasonal inspection or you are a very experienced DIY-er, Gardner-Gibson manufacturers a wide range of products to repair, preserve and protect your roof.

Best case scenario: An inspection reveals that all is well; you need only schedule your next inspection—just like you would your next A/C service—and rest easy. Worst case scenario: Inspection reveals leakage. In the latter event, beware: The source of a leak isn’t always as obvious as it may seem. Somewhere between best and worst case scenarios, regular, seasonal inspection should catch minor problems, easily repaired before they turn into major catastrophes.

Still, fully insuring against the danger of serious future damage requires careful attention to even minor repairs. There are a number of key factors to consider when choosing the right patch and repair products. To name a few:

What roofing materials need to be repaired?

How extensive is the damage? Is the roof flat or pitched?

Are there sections where water sits or pools on the roof?

Will the repair be visible?

Gardner-Gibson manufactures products designed to answer the full range of roof-repair needs. Our products are available in tubes for smaller repairs, and in quarts for larger, more comprehensive issues. You’ll find a number of Gardner-Gibson cements and mastics that can be used in wet or dry conditions. And Gardner-Gibson manufactures clear, black, and white products to support a variety of repair and needs and surface styles.

In short, Gardner-Gibson places many resources at your fingertips. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) provides brief product summaries, including preparation, application, coverage rates, clean-up information, and more. You’ll find it on the product pages of our branded websites. Whatever you do, make a habit of looking at the roof regularly. By doing so, you’ll have the opportunity to alert your contractor for appropriate repairs before leaks or other significant damage occurs.

Not only is Gardner-Gibson a leader in roofing materials, it also has a ton of highly rated products in the CRRC Rated Products Directory. The CRRC, or Cool Roof Rating Council, was created in 1998 and is incorporated as a non-profit educational organization. Its purpose is to develop accurate and credible radiative energy performance rating systems for roof surfaces and to communicate that information to all interested parties, like you.

Products seeking CRRC Rated Product credentials are subject to tests by accreditedlaboratories, all approved by the CRRC. Tests at these facilities include solar reflectance, thermal emittance, and for aged-ratings, samples are exposed for three years at the CRRC-approved Test Farm.

Information about any of these rated products is totally transparent and can be easily found through their website: http://coolroofs.org/

The Sta-Kool line of elastomeric coatings from Gardner-Gibson includes several products that have gone through this rating process. Each Sta-Kool coating provides a protective barrier that reflects the sun’s heat and destructive UV rays. Sta-Kool 780 is enhanced with silicone for improved water resistance, adhesion and life expectancy, earning the respect of Professionals and DIYers alike. Here is what some of them have to say:

While having gone through the CRRC testing is great, having earned the confidence of professionals and consumers alike is the real test of a product’s capability and performance. As you can see, Sta-Kool products have both.